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There has been a sudden increase in the rate of sea level rise Fri, 08 May 2026 15:08:55 +0100 Satellite measurements show that in the early 2010s sea level rise suddenly accelerated to a rate of 4.1 millimetres per year, possibly in response to an increase in the rate of global warming

A vast dam across the Bering Strait could stop the AMOC collapsing Sat, 09 May 2026 08:00:42 +0100 If a key ocean current collapses it could plunge northern Europe into a big freeze. Now researchers are weighing up a drastic intervention – building a 130-kilometre-wide dam between the US and Russia

A lost ancient script reveals how writing as we know it really began Mon, 04 May 2026 17:00:56 +0100 A long-overlooked writing system from 5000 years ago is still largely undeciphered, but could mark the moment humans first represented their speech with written words

Neanderthal 'kneeprint' found next to mysterious stalagmite circle Fri, 08 May 2026 11:11:57 +0100 An impression made in clay around 175,000 years ago could be a kneeprint left by one of the builders of a strange stalagmite circle found deep inside Bruniquel cave in south-west France

US government releases huge batch of UFO files Fri, 08 May 2026 19:33:13 +0100 The US Department of Defense has released hundreds of documents and photographs related to UFOs, some of which have been declassified, in the first of many drops to come

Doubling their genomes may have helped plants survive mass extinctions Fri, 08 May 2026 17:00:20 +0100 Many flowering plants have duplicated genomes, which could have helped them evolve to deal with extreme stress in times of environmental upheaval

Fire is spreading in the Chernobyl exclusion zone after drone crash Fri, 08 May 2026 16:07:48 +0100 A drone has crashed in the Chernobyl exclusion zone, causing a fire that has spread to 12 square kilometres of land. Dry weather, strong winds and the presence of land mines are complicating efforts to bring the blaze under control

Slow breathing can calm the mind without any need for mindfulness Fri, 08 May 2026 13:00:13 +0100 How important is thinking about your breath for calming yourself down? We now know that slow breathing is effective even without conscious involvement

PCOS postpones perimenopause and allows pregnancies at older ages Thu, 07 May 2026 17:00:01 +0100 Only 3 per cent of those with polycystic ovary syndrome reach perimenopause by the age of 46, which may allow them to conceive when older

New Scientist recommends Attenborough documentary Making Life on Earth Wed, 06 May 2026 19:00:38 +0100 The books, TV, games and more that New Scientist staff have enjoyed this week

The mathematician who doesn’t exist Fri, 08 May 2026 10:00:34 +0100 A secret society of French mathematicians has been revolutionising the field of mathematics under a pseudonym for nearly a century. Columnist Jacob Aron finds that this mythic collective provided maths a rigorous and useful foundation, and did some real harm along the way

Former Soviet scientific megastructures captured in striking photos Wed, 06 May 2026 19:00:28 +0100 Eric Lusito crossed the former Soviet Union to explore vast scientific sites, some of which have been deserted for years, for his new book

Hantavirus outbreak will not cause a covid-style pandemic, says WHO Thu, 07 May 2026 17:40:22 +0100 The World Health Organization sought to quell worldwide fears over the hantavirus outbreak on the cruise ship MV Hondius and reassure the public that the risk of widespread transmission is low

Coffee's mood-boosting effects aren't just down to caffeine Thu, 07 May 2026 16:00:49 +0100 A comprehensive study exploring coffee’s physiological effects finds that some of its benefits are down to polyphenols and their influence on gut bacteria

What to read this week: the excellent Beyond Belief by Helen Pearson Wed, 06 May 2026 19:00:00 +0100 Solving society's problems with evidence is a work in progress, argues a must-read new book. The process is surprisingly new – and riddled with complexities, finds Michael Marshall

Where has the deadly hantavirus come from and how does it spread? Tue, 05 May 2026 14:20:10 +0100 Three passengers on the cruise ship MV Hondius have died due to an outbreak of hantavirus, a rare illness transmitted by rodents

The best new popular science books of May 2026 Thu, 07 May 2026 12:00:47 +0100 A guide to walking, a look at the world’s Google searches and a deep dive into the secrets of our DNA are some of the topics tackled by the popular science books out this month

Less nostalgia, more pain: scientists study 1763 Eurovision songs Wed, 06 May 2026 19:00:00 +0100 Feedback discovers that the prevailing themes of Eurovision songs may come and go, but the urge to win stays the same.

What to read this week: The 21st Century Brain by Hannah Critchlow Wed, 29 Apr 2026 19:00:00 +0100 Our brains need to adapt quickly to meet the challenges of our digital world, but a rigorous new book by a neuroscientist brings hope that we can do it, says Graham Lawton

Pressure from individual particles measured for the first time Thu, 07 May 2026 07:00:42 +0100 A device made using a tiny bead floating in a beam of light can measure extremely small pressures and could help find a mysterious kind of neutrino

Dating over 50 is probably on the rise – but we know little about it Wed, 06 May 2026 21:00:36 +0100 Research into dating has until now almost exclusively focused on younger people, but we’re finally beginning to investigate how romance changes in later life

Bronze Age Britons fashioned copper-mining tools out of old bones Wed, 06 May 2026 19:00:21 +0100 An analysis of 150 artefacts from a site in Wales shows that the ancient practice of making tools out of bone persisted even after the advent of metal-working

Deforestation could trigger Amazon tipping point in the 2030s Wed, 06 May 2026 17:00:19 +0100 At least 15 per cent of the Amazon has already been lost, and further destruction could unleash widespread rainforest dieback with as little as 1.5°C of global warming

Huge landslide in Alaska caused 481m-high tsunami Wed, 06 May 2026 14:00:01 +0100 When the slope of a mountain above Tracy Arm fjord, in Alaska, gave way on 10 August 2025, 64 million cubic metres of rock fell into the fjord, causing a 5.4 magnitude seismic event

Robin Wall Kimmerer's Braiding Sweetgrass is still an essential read Wed, 06 May 2026 13:00:37 +0100 This 2013 book by an Indigenous botanist is a quietly urgent act of healing that forces Western science to look at the world in a different way

Read the winner of this year’s Young Science Writer Award Wed, 06 May 2026 11:00:12 +0100 Prize-winning young writer Hasset Kifle, 17, explores how the world of super-competitive running is being transformed by so-called “super shoes” – and what cost this will have on the sport

Extinct relative of koalas discovered in Western Australia Wed, 06 May 2026 01:01:10 +0100 Fossils reveal that there were at least two kinds of koala when humans first arrived in Australia, but one died out about 30,000 years ago when the west of the continent dried out

Backlash builds over NHS plan to hide source code from AI hacking risk Tue, 05 May 2026 17:00:06 +0100 NHS England is pulling its open-source software from the internet because of fears around computer-hacking AI models like Mythos. Opposition is growing among those who say the move is bad for transparency and efficiency, and will also do nothing to improve security

Woman in cancer remission without treatment in highly unusual case Tue, 05 May 2026 11:00:47 +0100 A biopsy of a woman's cancer seems to have triggered an immune response against the tumour, putting her into remission

The problem of cosmic inflation and how to solve it Tue, 05 May 2026 10:00:50 +0100 One of the best-performing models in cosmology is also one with the least physical rationale behind it. Columnist Leah Crane says this leaves us with a puzzle that could make or break physics as we know it

Man destined for Alzheimer's may have been saved by accidental therapy Tue, 05 May 2026 08:00:29 +0100 Doug Whitney has a genetic mutation that means he should have developed Alzheimer’s disease decades ago, but his long-term work in hot engine rooms may have protected him in a similar way to sauna therapy

Quantum computers simulated their biggest molecule yet – with help Tue, 05 May 2026 06:01:57 +0100 Two quantum computers and two supercomputers teamed up to break the record for the biggest molecule yet to be simulated using quantum hardware

Honey has been used as medicine for centuries – does it really work? Mon, 04 May 2026 17:08:16 +0100 It is appealing to think something as simple as honey could cure a cold or prevent hay fever, but is there evidence to back up honey’s health benefits? Columnist Alice Klein finds that it has legitimate medicinal uses, depending on the type of honey you’ve got

Tiny frozen world unexpectedly appears to have an atmosphere Mon, 04 May 2026 17:00:46 +0100 A 500-kilometre-wide object in a similar orbit to Pluto challenges our assumptions about small bodies in the outer solar system

300-year-old experiment could become world's best dark matter detector Mon, 04 May 2026 14:00:54 +0100 An update to an experiment run by Henry Cavendish in 1773 could be a cheaper and faster way to spot a potential dark matter particle – and may be 10,000 times more sensitive

An unorthodox version of quantum theory could reveal what reality is Fri, 01 May 2026 07:00:38 +0100 The implications of quantum mechanics suggest reality isn't as solid as we think it is, but physicist David Bohm had a spin on the theory that restores reality. Columnist Karmela Padavic-Callaghan explores how we could test Bohmian mechanics – and if it will ever become more widely accepted

The greatest David Attenborough documentaries you really need to watch Mon, 04 May 2026 11:00:49 +0100 To mark David Attenborough turning 100, New Scientist staff have been set a tricky task: pick your favourite of his many amazing documentaries...

Prebiotic chewing gum could be helpful for gum disease Mon, 04 May 2026 11:00:45 +0100 A small trial found that chewing gum containing nitrate can ease the symptoms of gum disease by favouring the growth of beneficial mouth bacteria

Smart underwear detects lactose intolerance by tracking your farts Mon, 04 May 2026 07:00:07 +0100 A device you attach to your underwear reveals how often you really break wind – and it’s probably more frequently than you think

Why dinosaurs lived much more complex lives than we thought Wed, 29 Apr 2026 17:00:22 +0100 A wave of dinosaur discoveries over the past decade has completely reshaped our understanding of these long-extinct animals. Palaeontologist Dave Hone spills the secrets of how dinosaurs lived, from how social they were to how much they really fought

Is consciousness more fundamental to reality than quantum physics? Tue, 28 Apr 2026 17:00:05 +0100 The idea that everything that exists can be built from the bottom up has long held sway among physicists. Now, a new kind of science is under construction that centres conscious experience – and might unravel the universe’s biggest mysteries

Our verdict on Red Mars: Mostly great, with a few quibbles Wed, 29 Apr 2026 19:00:46 +0100 The New Scientist Book Club read Kim Stanley Robinson's acclaimed science fiction story about the first settlers on Mars in April – and had a lot to say about it

Ann Leckie continues to shine with new sci-fi novel Radiant Star Wed, 29 Apr 2026 19:00:00 +0100 Set on a planet whose population lives underground, Radiant Star is Ann Leckie's latest Radch-universe novel. Its rich characterisation and meticulous world-building shine through, says our science-fiction columnist Emily H. Wilson

2026 will be the hottest year on record, leading scientist predicts Fri, 01 May 2026 18:24:54 +0100 The second half of this year will almost certainly see the start of an El Niño phase that could lead to extreme heat across much of the globe, and James Hansen expects that to make this year surpass 2024 as the hottest on record

Why the keto diet could be a revolutionary way to treat mental illness Mon, 27 Apr 2026 17:00:03 +0100 You may think of the high-fat, low-carb eating plan as a faddish way to lose weight. But the keto diet is now being used to tackle conditions from severe depression to bipolar disorder and anorexia, with transformative results

NHS England rushes to hide software over AI hacking fears Fri, 01 May 2026 13:32:04 +0100 National Health Service rules state that all software created with public money should be publicly available, but fears of computer-hacking AI models like Mythos have prompted a change in policy

The 4 biggest myths about hydration, according to an expert Fri, 01 May 2026 13:00:28 +0100 Should you really be drinking eight glasses of water a day? What about reaching for a sports drink after exercise? Physiologist Tamara Hew-Butler is here to bust these hydration myths and more.

Oak trees use delaying tactics to thwart hungry caterpillars Fri, 01 May 2026 11:00:50 +0100 An infestation of caterpillars can make an oak tree postpone when it opens its leaves next year by three days, wrong-footing the insects when they attack again

Why I explore our inevitable love for robots in my novel Luminous Fri, 01 May 2026 10:35:41 +0100 Silvia Park, author of the May read for the New Scientist Book Club, reveals how a book that was originally intended to be for children took a darker route following a death in the family

Read an extract from Luminous by Silvia Park Fri, 01 May 2026 10:35:05 +0100 In this extract from Luminous, the May read for the New Scientist Book Club, we meet a mysterious robot discovered in a salvage yard in Seoul, in a future reunified Korea

Will Colombia summit kick-start the end of the fossil fuel era? Fri, 01 May 2026 10:58:36 +0100 With progress at COP climate meetings stalling, 57 countries took part in the first of a new series of conferences aiming to develop road maps away from fossil fuels, but big emitters like China and the US were absent

The rings of Uranus are even stranger than we thought Fri, 01 May 2026 09:00:01 +0100 Uranus’s outermost two rings are surprisingly dissimilar, which opens up a mystery about the tiny moons and moonlets that form them

'Green' cryptocurrency uses 18 times more energy than makers claim Thu, 30 Apr 2026 19:00:45 +0100 A cryptocurrency that aims to avoid the disastrous energy consumption of bitcoin is actually using 18 times more energy than its makers claim – but it promises improvements are on the way

Your oral microbiome could affect your weight, liver and diabetes risk Thu, 30 Apr 2026 18:00:53 +0100 An ambitious study has explored how the oral microbiome may affect our metabolic health, raising hopes that conditions like pre-diabetes could one day be screened for via a simple mouth swab

We have figured out a new way to send messages into the past Thu, 30 Apr 2026 11:00:05 +0100 A technique inspired by the film Interstellar suggests a new way of communicating backwards in time, but it could help improve conventional communication systems as well

Human heads have changed shape a lot in the past 100 years Thu, 30 Apr 2026 16:00:54 +0100 Since the early 20th century, people’s skulls have got rounder and their jaws have got wider, probably because of changes in health, diet and environment

Doubts cast over 'wild' claim that magnetic control can turn on genes Thu, 30 Apr 2026 13:00:48 +0100 Researchers in South Korea say they have made a major advance by turning on genes with an electromagnetic signal, but critics say the claims are implausible and the paper is flawed

The best new science fiction books of May 2026 Thu, 30 Apr 2026 13:00:43 +0100 New science fiction from big names including Ann Leckie, Alan Moore and Martha Wells are just some of the exciting crop of titles out this month

The rich but complicated legacy of genome pioneer Craig Venter Thu, 30 Apr 2026 12:54:04 +0100 Craig Venter has died aged 79. He was at the forefront of sequencing the human genome and of synthetic biology, but divided opinion in how he went about it

Thought-provoking photographs capture what it feels like to have ADHD Wed, 29 Apr 2026 19:00:07 +0100 These unusual images were created by visual artist Daniel Regan by submerging Polaroid photographs in his ADHD medication, to represent his experiences with the condition through art

Is an AI version of Mark Zuckerberg – or any boss – a good plan? Wed, 29 Apr 2026 19:00:00 +0100 Feedback has learned that, according to reports, Meta is building an AI version of Mark Zuckerberg to interact with staff. Feedback hopes this doesn't become a trend

Simple treatment tweak drastically reduces blood loss from severe cuts Wed, 29 Apr 2026 17:25:02 +0100 A procedure that could be done in half an hour, and prepared ahead of time, could seriously reduce blood loss from severe wounds, such as during surgery

Weird 'transdimensional' state of matter is neither 2D nor 3D Wed, 29 Apr 2026 17:00:37 +0100 An experiment with a carbon material in a magnetic field has revealed a novel way for electrons to move, which doesn't fully belong in two or three spatial dimensions

The chips in your phone are probably broken – and that's a good thing Wed, 29 Apr 2026 15:00:50 +0100 Reports suggest that Apple is using defective chips originally destined for high-end devices to create its latest affordable laptop. Reusing partially broken chips is common practice for all device makers and produces less waste

Scorpions reinforce their claws and stingers with metals Wed, 29 Apr 2026 13:18:32 +0100 Many scorpion species use blends of iron, zinc and manganese to enhance the toughness of their deadly weaponry

Extreme weather in 2025 drove record wildfire emissions in Europe Wed, 29 Apr 2026 11:53:56 +0100 Europe, the fastest-warming continent, saw unprecedented wildfires and heatwaves in 2025, including a three-week hot spell that hit 30°C inside the Arctic circle

Cancer is increasing in young people and we still don't know why Wed, 29 Apr 2026 00:30:36 +0100 Obesity might be to blame for part of the increase in cancer among young people, a study in the UK has found, but the causes largely remain a mystery

Gamblers are betting millions of dollars on measles outbreaks Tue, 28 Apr 2026 17:00:56 +0100 People are increasingly placing bets that predict measles outbreaks in the US, which could help researchers modelling the spread of the disease

Humanoid robots may be about to break the 100-metre sprint record Tue, 28 Apr 2026 15:00:26 +0100 Robots can now run a half-marathon faster than humans and are rapidly homing in on the men's 100-metre sprint record. But why are companies so keen to create speedy robots that have no obvious application in homes or factories?

How I pay almost nothing to power my house and electric car Tue, 28 Apr 2026 11:00:25 +0100 The ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz has seen energy prices soar, but Alice Klein pays just A$25 (£13) a month for her electricity, even when charging an electric car or running an air conditioner.

Coral reefs on a remote archipelago shrugged off a massive heatwave Mon, 27 Apr 2026 17:00:58 +0100 Scientists were shocked to find that the Houtman Abrolhos Islands’ coral reefs survived a prolonged extreme heatwave in 2025 virtually unharmed, which may reveal how to protect corals elsewhere

We may finally have a cure for many different autoimmune conditions Tue, 28 Apr 2026 10:00:02 +0100 A revolutionary cancer treatment is now being applied to a wide range of autoimmune disorders. Columnist Michael Le Page finds it is proving to be even more effective than expected

Giant Arctic continent launched dinosaurs to world domination Mon, 27 Apr 2026 13:00:57 +0100 Coincident with the rise of the dinosaurs, a large landmass filled most of the Arctic circle, potentially contributing to global cooling that advantaged the famous reptiles

10,000 new planets found hidden in NASA telescope data Mon, 27 Apr 2026 11:00:48 +0100 NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite has been searching for exoplanets since its launch in 2018, and it turns out it may have found plenty more of them than we had thought

Why your opinion of used electric vehicles is probably wrong Wed, 22 Apr 2026 19:00:00 +0100 The idea that EV batteries age poorly is a misconception – and a new report has found they often outlive the cars themselves

How your heart rate variability can offer an insight into your mind Mon, 27 Apr 2026 10:00:42 +0100 Smartwatches commonly use heart rate variability to monitor stress. Columnist Helen Thomson explores what this metric actually tells us, and whether it could also predict and diagnose depression – and help improve your mental health more generally

100-year-old assumption about the universe may soon be overturned Mon, 27 Apr 2026 08:00:31 +0100 Physicists have long assumed that the universe is uniform at very large scales, but evidence is emerging this is wrong and suggests a way to resolve some of the biggest cosmological mysteries

We need more radioactive drugs. Can we make them from nuclear waste? Wed, 22 Apr 2026 17:00:58 +0100 The rise of a new generation of radiotherapies means we will soon need much greater quantities of radioactive atoms. That's why companies are scrambling to refine them from all manner of radioactive waste

Why the right kind of stress is crucial for your health and happiness Mon, 20 Apr 2026 15:00:47 +0100 Stress is linked to many of our biggest killers, but a growing body of research suggests that certain types can sharpen the mind and strengthen the body. Here’s how to find your perfect dose

This mesmerising Cornish time-travel film is not to be missed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 19:00:00 +0100 A seaside town is devastated when a small fishing boat, the Rose of Nevada, disappears at sea. Thirty years later, the boat reappears in the harbour and sets off a moving story, says Bethan Ackerley

Gravity's strength measured more reliably than ever before Fri, 24 Apr 2026 19:00:34 +0100 Measuring the strength of gravity is extraordinarily difficult, and different experiments have always disagreed – but a new test is paving the way to finally understanding nature’s most enigmatic force

Symptoms of early dementia reversed by bespoke treatment plans Fri, 24 Apr 2026 13:33:58 +0100 People with cognitive decline or early-stage dementia saw their symptoms improve when given bespoke treatment plans that targeted their personal nutritional deficiencies, ongoing infections and environmental exposures

QBox theory may offer glimpse of reality deeper than quantum realm Fri, 24 Apr 2026 11:00:12 +0100 Physicists have long suspected that there is a layer of physical reality beneath quantum theory and a new mathematical model unveils just how strange it might be

New Scientist recommends Jeff Beal’s New York Études, Vol. II Wed, 22 Apr 2026 19:00:29 +0100 The books, TV, games and more that New Scientist staff have enjoyed this week

Largest-ever octopus was great white shark of invertebrate predators Thu, 23 Apr 2026 20:00:12 +0100 During the Cretaceous, 19-metre-long predatory octopuses swam the seas, and evidence from their fossilised remains suggest they may have been highly intelligent hunters

Is stem cell therapy about to transform medicine and reverse ageing? Fri, 24 Apr 2026 10:00:12 +0100 A clinical trial to reverse age-related vision conditions using stem cell treatment could finally deliver on the promise of a major discovery in ageing and regeneration made 20 years ago, says columnist Graham Lawton

Striking photo essay examines deadly spread of dengue fever in Nepal Wed, 22 Apr 2026 19:00:48 +0100 Photographer Yuri Segalerba explores how dengue has spread to Nepal's Himalayan districts, and how locals are fighting back

Do you need to worry about Mythos, Anthropic's computer-hacking AI? Thu, 23 Apr 2026 19:00:34 +0100 A powerful AI kept from public access because of its ability to hack computers with impunity is making headlines around the world. But what is Mythos, does it really represent a risk and might it even be used to improve cybersecurity?

Exercise advice for long covid may be doing more harm than good Wed, 22 Apr 2026 15:23:29 +0100 Exercise has been touted as a tool for managing and treating long covid, but much of the evidence has neglected one of its most debilitating symptoms: post-exertional malaise

Catching a cold can delay cancer from spreading to the lungs Thu, 23 Apr 2026 18:00:20 +0100 Infecting mice with RSV, a common virus that causes cold-like symptoms, prevented breast cancer cells from reaching their lungs. This was due to the release of proteins that stop viruses from replicating in the lungs also making it harder for cancer cells to seed new tumours

Huge study reveals how Epstein-Barr virus may cause multiple sclerosis Thu, 23 Apr 2026 17:00:39 +0100 The Epstein-Barr virus seems to affect gene expression and cell signalling in a way that causes the autoimmune condition multiple sclerosis

How many dachshunds would it take to get to the moon? Wed, 22 Apr 2026 19:00:00 +0100 Feedback, always on the hunt for absurd units of measurement, is delighted by recent attempts to convey the 406,771 kilometres that the Artemis II crew travelled from Earth

Can you slow ageing with your diet? A new book gives it a go Wed, 22 Apr 2026 19:00:00 +0100 Discovering he is getting old before his time, David Cox tries to lower his biological age by changing his diet in a helpful new book, The Age Code, says Graham Lawton

98 per cent of meat and dairy sustainability pledges are greenwashing Wed, 22 Apr 2026 19:00:42 +0100 The food industry has made big promises to reduce emissions and become more sustainable, but a review concludes that many of the pledges are not backed up by evidence

Table tennis-playing robot on track to becoming world champion Wed, 22 Apr 2026 17:00:19 +0100 A robot built by Sony AI is rapidly learning how to beat the world's very best table tennis players

Fermat's Last Theorem: still a must-read about a 350-year maths secret Wed, 22 Apr 2026 13:00:36 +0100 Simon Singh's exploration of mathematical proof – in particular Pierre de Fermat's last theorem – remains an absolute treasure, almost three decades after it was first published

If a bird flu pandemic starts, we may have an mRNA vaccine ready Wed, 22 Apr 2026 01:01:21 +0100 A final-stage trial has started of an mRNA vaccine against the bird flu strain infecting many animals – and occasionally people – worldwide

Titan’s strange plains may be explained by unusual weather Tue, 21 Apr 2026 18:00:44 +0100 Most of Titan’s surface is oddly flat and smooth, and it may be because it is coated by as much as a metre of fluffy organic material that snowed down from the icy moon’s thick atmosphere

The monstrous number sequences that break the rules of mathematics Tue, 21 Apr 2026 17:00:07 +0100 Some seemingly simple sequences of multiplication and addition grow so quickly that they question the very foundations of mathematics. In doing so, they demand a whole new level of logic

Game theory explains why the US's goals in Iran keep changing Tue, 21 Apr 2026 15:57:39 +0100 The ongoing conflict around the Strait of Hormuz has become a situation in game theory known as a war of attrition. The maths behind it can help explain what's going on, says Petros Sekeris